MTA brands rival "backward" for stance on ATAS

MTA brands rival "backward" for stance on ATAS
By admin


Mobile Travel Agents (MTA) has branded a rival home based group as “backward” for its views on consumer protection after joining Flight Centre in committing to the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS).

MTA co-managing directors Roy and Karen Merricks described ATAS as “the right way forward” which offered sufficient financial protection for consumers.

Its pledge to join comes 24 hours after Flight Centre signaled its intention to sign up.

“The outgoing system has been broken for years and failed to adequately protect the traveller as it did not cover all of the travel intermediaries,” Roy Merricks said.

MTA said its decision came after pondering all the arguments during the consultative process.

“Our belief, and our MTA members’ belief, is that the new ATAS scheme will go a long way to ensuring that the travelling consumer has the necessary protections against such things as insolvency,” Merricks said.

The group then went on to criticise calls to make insolvency insurance compulsory for ATAS members. Although MTA did not name TravelManagers, it has been Barry Mayo, the TravelManagers chairman, who has vociferously led a charge to force through mandatory take-up of insurance.

Mayo has refused to throw in the towel over the issue, yesterday accusing the Australian Federation of Travel Agents of failing to address key questions.

MTA branded such calls as “backward”.

“With the winding up of the old ways, it’s very important for us to be internationally competitive and not handcuffed by backward thinking compulsory ATAS compliance requirements proposed by some,” Merricks said, in thinly veiled attack on its rival.

“Inbuilt ATAS safeguards necessary to ensure the professional integrity of the scheme will stand all members and consumers in good stead.

“We understand all insurance options are or will be available and each business will avail themselves of those products best suited to their individual businesses.”

He said MTA customers are already financially protected, adding that ATAS will add a further level of comfort “as the scheme includes all of its suppliers”.

“Key to everything is the news scheme’s flexibility and that flexibility caters for all the business variations that exist today in our industry.”

Mayo rejected MTA’s criticisms and challenged Merricks to take part in a public debate on the issue.

He said MTA was “oblivious” to the fall out in the event of an agent going to the wall who did not have insolvency

“The potential flow on effect from this on the integrity of the travel agent community and consumers’ subsequent perception of ATAS’ value proposition remains of utmost concern to TravelManagers,” Mayo said in a statement to Travel Today. “TravelManagers invites MTA to participate in a public debate on the pros and cons of ATAS with a live audience at a time and place of MTA’s choosing.”

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